07/01/2019 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 7 January, the European Commission announced its wish to extend the special schemes applicable to seven types of State aid, which allow public authorities, under certain conditions, to grant State aid without the need for prior approval by the Commission. These schemes, covering in particular environmental protection and energy aid or regional aid, are due to expire at the end of 2020 and the institution wishes to prolong them for a further two years. The institution has also launched an evaluation of these schemes as well as those relating to other State aid. In the form of a quality assessment, this assessment will serve as a basis for future decisions on the extension or updating of the rules in this area. Link to the press release: https://bit.ly/2QrfcnX. (LT)